Hyperspectral Image Scientist

NCSL International; Springfield (VA); Hybrid; USD 92,000 - 167,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Income Protection

Paid Leave

Job summary

Leidos is actively searching for a Senior Hyperspectral Image Scientist to lead analysis and exploitation of hyperspectral and multispectral imagery for government missions. The role requires on-site work at a government facility in Springfield, VA, with collaboration across analysts, engineers, and program managers.

The candidate will develop spectral algorithms, perform calibration workflows, and produce technical reports documenting findings and recommendations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field related to remote sensing or imaging science.
• 8–12 years of relevant experience in hyperspectral image analysis or remote sensing.
• Experience with hyperspectral/multispectral exploitation in government/defense/research environments.
• Strong knowledge of spectral phenomenology and remote sensing principles.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, ENVI/IDL, ArcGIS, or equivalent tools.
• Experience developing spectral detection, classification, or anomaly detection algorithms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to present findings to diverse audiences.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with ability to obtain a polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and evaluation of hyperspectral image analysis methods.
• Exploit hyperspectral and multispectral datasets to identify materials and activities of interest.
• Develop spectral-based algorithms for detection, unmixing, and change detection.
• Perform radiometric, atmospheric, and geometric corrections.
• Build and maintain spectral libraries and support endmember analysis.
• Integrate hyperspectral analytics with GEOINT and other data sources.
• Prepare technical reports and briefings for government stakeholders.
• Advise leadership on capabilities and best practices.

Skills

Hyperspectral image exploitation

Multispectral imagery analysis

Spectral signature analysis

Spectral library development

Material identification

Spectral unmixing

Anomaly detection

Change detection

Radiometric correction

Atmospheric correction

Geometric correction

Algorithm development

Python

MATLAB

ENVI/IDL

GIS

Scientific scripting

Data visualization

Technical reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Remote Sensing/Imagery Science/Physics/EE/Geospatial Science/Applied Mathematics/CS

Tools

MATLAB

Python

ENVI/IDL

ArcGIS

Job description

Leidos is actively interviewing for a Senior Hyperspectral Image Scientist to join our team in Springfield, VA.

Job Summary

Senior technical position responsible for leading the analysis, exploitation, and interpretation of hyperspectral and multispectral imagery in support of government missions. The Senior Hyperspectral Image Scientist will provide subject matter expertise in spectral data processing, algorithm development, image exploitation, and applied remote sensing science. This position requires on-site support at a government facility and close collaboration with analysts, engineers, program managers, and mission stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the development, evaluation, and application of hyperspectral image analysis methodologies.
• Perform exploitation of hyperspectral, multispectral, and related geospatial datasets to identify, classify, and characterize materials, objects, and activities of interest.
• Develop, refine, and validate spectral-based algorithms for detection, unmixing, anomaly detection, change detection, target identification, and material classification.
• Conduct preprocessing and calibration workflows, including radiometric correction, atmospheric correction, and geometric correction.
• Build and maintain spectral libraries and support signature analysis, endmember extraction, and spectral matching.
• Integrate hyperspectral analytics with other GEOINT, remote sensing, and intelligence data sources.
• Prepare technical reports, briefings, white papers, and documentation for government stakeholders.
• Advise leadership and mission teams on capabilities, limitations, and best practices related to hyperspectral sensing and exploitation.

Required Technical Skills

• Hyperspectral and multispectral image exploitation
• Spectral signature analysis and spectral library development
• Material identification and classification
• Sub-pixel analysis and spectral unmixing
• Anomaly detection and change detection
• Radiometric, atmospheric, and geometric correction
• Algorithm development and validation
• Python, MATLAB, ENVI/IDL, GIS, and scientific scripting
• Data visualization and technical reporting

Work Environment

• Work will be performed primarily on-site at a government facility.
• Limited travel may be required based on program needs.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Remote Sensing, Imaging Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Geospatial Science, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 8-12 years of relevant professional experience in hyperspectral image analysis, spectral science, remote sensing, or related technical disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience with hyperspectral and multispectral imagery exploitation in government, defense, intelligence, or applied research environments.
• Strong knowledge of spectral phenomenology, imaging spectroscopy, and remote sensing principles.
• Experience with image processing and scientific analysis tools such as MATLAB, Python, ENVI/IDL, ArcGIS, or equivalent platforms.
• Experience developing and implementing algorithms for spectral detection, classification, target recognition, or anomaly detection.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with ability to be approved for a Poly

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline.
• Experience supporting DoD, IC, NGA, NGA-related, or other federal mission environments.
• Familiarity with sensor calibration, atmospheric modeling, physics-based exploitation, and sensor phenomenology.
• Experience with machine learning or artificial intelligence methods applied to hyperspectral data.
• Experience working with large-scale datasets, cloud-based analytics, or high-performance computing environments.
• Knowledge of geospatial data standards, data fusion, and operational tasking workflows.

#GEOINTMISSION

#NSBA

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

May 20, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers.

• competitive compensation
• Health and Wellness programs
• Income Protection
• Paid Leave and Retirement

More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.